The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin yesterday published a summary report on survey findings which suggested attorneys are overloaded by technology.  According to the report, some 70 percent of respondents indicated they spend significant amounts of time sorting through irrelevant information to locate what they need.

We suggest, likely in agreement with survey sponsors LexisNexis, that these overwhelmed attorneys need to be more selective in choosing their electronic research tools, and need to better learn how to use their chosen tools.

Our firm has found technology resources have revolutionized the process of identifying current, relevant case law to argue our clients' cases.  Unlike the apparent majority of firms, we embrace this technology as one more way to provide the most complete representation for our clients. 

While clients may on occassion be billed for our out-of-pocket costs to use specialized legal databases the savings in fees, that a decade or so ago would have been generated by trips to the law library to sift through often-outdated pages of case law, far outweigh those out-of-pocket costs.  In addition, because the electronic legal databases are the most up-to-date sources of case law available, we know we can present arguments on behalf of our clients that are based on current rulings.

For example, that same issue of Chicago Daily Law Bulletin included coverage of state and US Supreme Court findings on search & seizure.  The Courts' opinions on the issues were just made available five days ago.  No printed law book would include these cases so soon, but a tech savvy firm like ours would find them.

So what, you may ask, does this mean to the average citizen in need of legal representation?  It means that in selecting a law firm to represent you, be sure to ask about its research capability.  Find out how they build their arguments and how they bill you for the time and expense involved.  Choose a firm that is knowledgeable and efficient in both obtaining case law and managing your costs.